The group returned to the warehouse for now.

Fortunately, it seemed Wardanaz and Meikin had both found buyers willing to pay a fair price.

“To think the Meikin Family workshop would purchase it at such a high rate. That’s surprising.”

“I was surprised as well.”

“How were the other places?”

“I’m not sure what kind of day it was, but everywhere we went, the alchemists were drunk.”

“...?”

Lee Han and Yoner tilted their heads at the same time.

Alchemists drunk in broad daylight across the entire city?

“That can’t be right. What are you even talking about?”

“Did you two come back after drinking?”

The accusation made both of them flare up immediately.

“What kind of nonsense is that?! Do I look like Alpha?”

“Do I look like someone like Tutanta?!”

I should never put those two in the same sentence again.

Lee Han quickly intervened and calmed them down.

In any case, the contracts were successful. All that remained was to deliver the goods.

Even if he was still puzzled why Yoanen had naturally appeared inside another workshop earlier...

“Oh right. I should ask the master if there are any other reagents that can be reproduced.”

“That Wardanaz guy really is diligent.”

His friends laughed, relaxed.

The thought of gold coins coming their way had made them unusually cheerful. Extra work didn’t bother them at all.

Compared to keeping up with Einroguard’s lectures, this was nothing.

“Master? Master? That’s strange. Why isn’t he answering?”

“...?”

***

After the exhausting work and transport were finally finished—only after the Insane Doppelganger gave up and answered Lee Han’s questions—the students felt a rare sense of freedom.

“Here. Your share.”

“With this much, I don’t even think I need to go back to Einroguard.”

“...You’re not seriously planning to run away, are you?”

“I-I was joking.”

But his eyes looked serious.

With heavy coin pouches in hand, the students immediately began planning purchases.

Normally they were limited ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) by lack of money, but now their options felt endless.

“A new polo mallet would stand out too much, right?”

“Couldn’t we hide it somehow?”

“They say inspections are simple, but if we get too greedy... wait. They wouldn’t repeat what they did earlier this year, would they?”

“...They wouldn’t go that far again. The Death Knights must be busy anyway.”

One by one, they seriously debated prices, concealment, and inspection risks.

At first, they had wandered aimlessly after leaving the magic school.

But now that they had money, their attention had completely shifted to spending it.

Even so, it was still easier than surviving Einroguard’s classes.

Lee Han, meanwhile, was already thinking ahead.

He still had more time than the others, so it made sense to prepare early.

The herb request must be completed properly.

He recalled the list his senior had given him.

Two bundles of purple round wood, swansong preserved in sealed crystals, and three bottles of fairy honey wine.

Inside Einroguard, he would have had to rely on the black market or produce them himself.

But here in Granden City, he could simply walk around and buy them.

An easy commission. Five times the payout.

The trading company already had purple round wood and fairy honey wine in stock.

The only remaining item was swansong preserved in sealed crystals.

“It’s at the Greenbel Artifact Store?”

“Yes. They apparently bought several pieces from there.”

“Perfect. Let’s go together.”

His friends immediately gathered when they heard the name of a high-end artifact shop.

Even Adenart glanced over, clearly interested.

But Lee Han shook his head firmly.

“That place inflates prices with unnecessary decoration and branding. If you’re going to waste money there—”

“What are you planning to buy? Yoner, didn’t you say you wanted those Alchemist’s Glasses? The ones made from Ikansel guardian stones?”

“Those are too expensive... a hundred Imperial gold coins.”

“I can lend you some. Or we can pool money.”

“...”

His objections were completely ignored.

Instead, enthusiasm only grew.

Lee Han sighed.

I shouldn’t have given them the gold all at once. I should have rationed it. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“Fine. Just don’t regret it later.”

“Oh right. Wardanaz, as thanks for this job, we want to pool money and buy you something too.”

Angrago spoke seriously.

Giving gold directly would be improper, but a gift was different.

And if it came from a high-end artifact store, all the better.

Smack.

“Ow!”

“Didn’t I just say they overcharge there? Are you doing this on purpose?”

“No, no—it’s just that all high-end places are like that...”

Angrago looked betrayed.

His friends avoided his gaze.

We all agreed on this!

Moradi had been right—never trust people from other towers.

White Tiger Tower was truly rotten.

“If you say something like that again, I’ll take your coin pouch and hand it to Moradi. Understand?”

“I-I understand...”

Angrago still didn’t understand why he alone was being punished.

And why only him.

***

“...Wait. Something’s wrong.”

“What is it?”

As they arrived in front of the artifact store, Lee Han stopped suddenly.

His friends tilted their heads.

Nilia eyed him suspiciously.

Is he trying to stop us from spending money?

He hated wasting money himself—and even more when others did.

It wouldn’t be strange if he blocked the entrance outright.

“The door is open, but there’s no clerk.”

“Maybe they stepped out?”

“No. That’s not right.”

This was a high-end store in the city center. Staff discipline was strict.

Last time, they had been greeted by neatly dressed clerks and a hall filled with high-purity mana stones.

For the store to be empty like this was unnatural.

“Should we go in and check?”

“If it’s a trap, it could be dangerous.”

Salko and Angrago exchanged a look.

A silent conversation passed between them.

Has Wardanaz gotten more paranoid lately?

Yeah. Too many incidents changed him.

They nodded slightly.

“W-Wardanaz... I don’t think anyone would set a trap here...”

Adenart hesitated, echoing the others.

But Lee Han was already firm.

He had learned his lesson after Yoanen.

I can’t assume safety just because I’m outside Einroguard.

He took out a divination top.

【Bagrek’s Momentary Foresight】 wasn’t suitable for long-range prediction, but it would confirm immediate danger.

The top spun in his palm.

The moment he stepped forward—

It stopped.

“There’s danger.”

“It might’ve stopped because you moved your hand—Wardanaz, we already look suspicious just standing here...”

“Quiet.”

“Ugh...”

“...In accordance with the master’s command—freeze!”

A cold elemental projection burst forward and opened the door.

It rushed inside.

His friends stiffened.

At this point, they could only hope something was actually wrong inside.

Otherwise, sending a summoned elemental into a store would be... extremely problematic.

Inside, a voice shouted immediately.

“Enemy intrusion!”

A rough mercenary voice rang out.

Then someone rushed forward from inside the shop.

The students flinched.

What?

But the mercenary was even more shocked than they were.

He saw the crude elemental projection—and panic spread across his face.

“It’s a trap! A tracking spell!”

“Fall back!”

Chaos erupted inside.

The mercenary grabbed a pouch and threw it down.

Dark smoke erupted, meant to obscure vision.

But Lee Han reacted faster.

From the moment the projection entered, he had already prepared his spell.

BOOM!

A water orb detonated inside the shop.

The mercenary was thrown back violently, armor creaking under the impact.

Even through protection, the force stole his breath.

Not an ordinary mage... a combat specialist? Are they tracking us this deeply?

“Wardanaz! They’re retreating! Let’s chase them!”

“No. Don’t rush in blindly.”

Lee Han stopped them immediately.

The enemies had likely withdrawn after the sudden counterattack.

And more importantly—there were civilians inside.

Inside the shop, clerks and customers were tied up and groaning.

“Are you alright?”

“T-thank you! Those lawless bastards... in the middle of Granden City!”

After some calming potions, the clerk explained what happened.

“They suddenly broke in and demanded the Swan Song. When we said we didn’t have it yet, they tied everyone up and searched the place.”

“The Swan Song isn’t here?”

“No. The shipment was cancelled after the transport vessel sank.”

Lee Han narrowed his eyes.

This wasn’t a simple robbery.

These people knew exactly what they were looking for.

They even avoided triggering defensive artifacts.

They were professionals.

Then—

A message arrived through the Whispering Watchers artifact.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. Situation changed. Cancel the request. Do not approach the Swan Song.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Dangerous mercenaries confirmed. Among them: Villain of Garam and Three-Finger Akdin.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. Are you reading this?

Lee Han paused.

Then replied:

Gonadaltes: By any chance, does Akdin have three fingers?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Is that really what you should be asking right now?! Yes, that’s probably why he’s called that.

Gonadaltes: I think I may have just caught him.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: ...